The experience of chronic pain, opioid treatment, and counseling interventions

This dissertation served to educate providers working with individuals living with chronic pain toward a better understanding about lived experiences with chronic pain. Understanding came from the voices of the individuals themselves. Included in this discussion is how counseling services played a role in those lived experiences. Additionally, how recent management of medications – opioids specifically – had impacted those lived experiences was included. A phenomenological study with semi-structured, face-to-face interviews of twelve participants was conducted to find themes related to the above topics. Thematic analysis from Rossman and Rallis (2017) was infused with the phenomenological research provided by Moustakas (1994) to uncover these themes. In addition to the face-to-face interviews, four participants completed REDCap journal entries and two participants participated in a visually blinded Zoom Focus Group. The research question that guided this study was: What are the lived experiences of individuals living with chronic pain within the context of managed opioid medication treatment and counseling interventions? Four final themes were derived from the data: “Everything Comes at a Price,” “Do They Think I’m a Faker? “It All Seems to Help,” and “Hamster Wheel.” “Everything Comes at a Price” included one sub-theme. “Do They Think I’m a Faker?” included seven sub-themes. “It All Seems to Help” included one sub-theme, and “Hamster Wheel” included five sub-themes. Derived themes could be used by multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team providers to influence client care. Themes provided further understanding of the lived experiences of individuals living with chronic pain. The hope of this researcher was that this influence on client care produced more efficient, effective, and holistic treatment for individuals living with chronic pain.